Kurds Preparing Takeover of Northern Iraq

"...with more than 10,000 Kurds in the Iraqi army prepared to seize control of northern Iraq for an independent state."

Ahmed Chalabi Fails to Win Seat on Iraqi National Assembly

"Unexpectedly low support from overseas voters has left Ahmed Chalabi -- the returned Iraqi exile once backed by the United States to lead Iraq -- facing a shutout from power in this month's vote for the country's first full-term parliament since the 2003 invasion."